Apparatus for the sterilization of fluids.



W. H. WALKEY.

APPARATUS FOR THE STERILIZATION 0F FLUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8,1915- 1 ,1 99,642. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET P.

W. R. WALKEY.

I APPARATUS FOR THE STERILIZATION 0F FLUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1915. 1,1 99 642. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM RICHARD WALKEY, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE STERILIZATION OF FLUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed April 8, 1915. Serial No. 19,896.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM RICHARD WALKEY, a subject of the King of England, residing in Westminster, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Sterilization of Fluids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus wherein is employed ultra-violet light for the sterilization of milk, beer and other liquids, more particularly opaque liquids, such as milk.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing apparatus, the efiiciency of which shall be considerably greater than apparatus hitherto employed and to effect this the surface over which flows the fluid to be sterilized, is arranged in a particular mannerand is of a particular character, such as will afford the best possible concentration of the light-rays upon the fluid.

Thus, according to this invention, .a sterilizing apparatus comprises in combination a source of ultra-violet light and a stationary member providing a surface over which the fluid to be sterilized may flow in contact by adhesion or surface tension under the action of gravity, (sometimes referred to as capillary attraction) in a thin film 'to be acted upon by the said ultra-violet 1i ght-rays, characterized by the said surface being corrugated in a vertical plane and also curved as a whole so that the rays of light from the source strike the fluid in a normal or substanti ally normal direction or at least are inclined away from the normal to a substantially less degree than would be the case if an uncurved surface were employed in place of the curved surface. Preferably means are also provided for maintaining a circulation of air over the said surface.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention there is a plurality of surfaces curved as above described and arranged symmetrically around the source of light. More particularly the said surfaces are curved apart from their corrugations only in one plane, generally in a horizontal plane.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section,

of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1, parts being removed for clearness; Fig. 3 is a plan of one of the surfaces having a convenient curvature; Fig. 4 .is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 diagrammatically illustrate modified forms of portions of the apparatus.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

The main frame of the apparatus consists of vertical supports A tied at A at the top and bottom. Between each adjacent pair of supports A is a swinging side B, each of which is identicalso that a description of one will sufiice for all. The important feature of the sides is that they shall be curved as'shown in plan in Figs. 2 and 3. They may constitute swinging sides by being hinged at B to the supports A and, if desired, any convenient form of clip may be employed to hold them in place. Supported above the sides B is a tank C having holes C disposed close to the upper edge of the sides 13 so that fluid may fall by gravity from the tank C on to the sides. The holes C are so dimensioned that the fluid passes on to the side B in a thin film and by adhesion under the action of gravity flows over the surface on the corrugations.

Arranged centrally in the tank C is a funnel C which opens the interior of the apparatus to the outer surrounding atmosphere and serves as an uptake for the exit of any ozone which may be formed and also for the air as it becomes slightly heated during the operation of the apparatus. Thus a circulation of air is maintained which keeps the air in the apparatus cool and pure.

Within the apparatus is a source of ultraviolet light which may conveniently consist of two mercury vapor lamps D suspended from the support A. The curvature of the sides may be such as to, as closely as possible, approximate that of a circle struck from a center approximately coinciding with the position of the source of light. Thus, referring to the dotted lines in Fig. 3, assuming E to be the lamp, it will be seen that while a ray, diagrammatically shown at E strikes the curved surface B substantially in a normal manner, it strikes the plane surface F in an oblique direction, while similarly a ray, such as E far more nearly ap proximates to a normal ray in relation to the curved surface B than it does to the plane surface diagrammatically shown at F.

It has been found convenient in practice to curve the surface B on either the lines of a parabolic curve or of a circle having a somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of the apparatus, which latter may con veniently be 12-18 inches internally. The fluid drains from the sides B-into a receptacle G from which it is removed by' a drainpipe G Although the invention has been described in detail it is not limited to the particular. construction illustrated as that is shown merely as one convenient arrangement of the various parts. Thus, the surfaces B may be curved in their length from top to bottom as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5 to increase the benefit obtained from the invention. Further, a fan H may be' employed in What I claim-as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A sterilizing apparatus comprising in combination, a-source of ultraeviolet light, a plurality of hinged members arranged around the source of light each of said members having a surface which is curved so that it presents a concavity to the source of light and has on it corrugations which are transverse to its vertical axis, an annular container surmounting the said members and having a central chimney-like extension and peripheral orifices communicating with the inner faces of the said members for the purpose described,.. and means to remove the fluid after it has been sterilized from the lower edges of the said members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WI LLIAM RICHARD WALKEY.

Witnesses:

H. D. JAMnsoN, O. J. WORTH. 

